Forests represent an important part of our environmental infrastructure: they cool down urban areas, filter air, and soak up noise. Added to which, medical research has long shown that “forest bathing” strengthens the immune system and heart, reduces stress hormones, and can alleviate depression. Indeed, the mere sight of greenery has a measurable impact: hospital patients’ heart rate and blood pressure drop and they recover faster if they can look out over a tree rather than a grey wall. However, the distribution of forests around the world is extremely un- even. In 53 countries, more than half of the land area is covered by forest, with the figure even exceeding 75 percent in ten of these. At the same time, there are countries which have almost no forest whatsoever. Alarmingly, the shrinking of forested areas around the world is continu- ing, with humans virtually always the cause.
61.5
34.7
Montenegro Montenegro
Tschechien Czechia
36.1
Bulgarien Bulgaria
32.3
Schweiz Switzerland
17.4
Australien Australia
34.7
Kroatien Croatia
47.2 Österreich Austria
57.9
Malaysia Malaysia
24.3
31
Philippinen Philippines
How many minutes of “forest time” do you treat yourself to each week?
Weltweiter Durchschnitt Global average
68 Das gute Leben ∙ Waldflächen
69 The good life ∙ Forest areas
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